CN110740637B

CN110740637B - System for soil moisture monitoring and irrigation mapping

Info

Publication number: CN110740637B
Application number: CN201880034230.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 雅各布·L·拉吕
Original assignee: Valmont Industries Inc
Current assignee: Valmont Industries Inc
Priority date: 2017-05-26
Filing date: 2018-05-09
Publication date: 2021-09-28
Anticipated expiration: 2038-05-09
Also published as: MX2019013847A; BR112019024640B1; BR112019024640A2; CN110740637A; AU2018273713B2; EP3629703A1; AU2018273713A1; CA3064410A1; US20180341032A1; ZA201907608B; US10890677B2; EP3629703B1; WO2018217453A1; EP3629703A4

Abstract

To address the shortcomings of the prior art, the present invention provides systems and methods for providing improved irrigation management by detecting fast neutrons. According to a preferred embodiment, the fast neutron detector of the present invention comprises a 4-He based rare gas detector, a power supply, signal processing circuitry, and a resistor in series with a preamplifier and a shaping amplifier to produce a processed signal. According to a further preferred embodiment, the invention preferably further comprises a signal path analyzer and a pulse counter/rate meter. According to a further preferred embodiment, the invention comprises a controller that receives a count of detected fast neutrons and converts the number of detected fast neutrons into an irrigation map indicating a required irrigation level for a selected area of a given field based on the detected moisture level.

Description

System for soil moisture monitoring and irrigation mapping

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application 62/511,414 filed on 26/5/2017.

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for irrigation management, and more particularly to systems and methods for soil moisture monitoring and irrigation mapping.

Background

The determination of the irrigation management area is typically based on the knowledge of the farmer/operator, NRCS soil map or conductivity map using Dual EM or Veris type equipment. Depending on the soil moisture content, each mode has limitations in resolution or inability to map frozen land, and if there are crops, the field cannot be mapped.

Knowing the condition of soil moisture content is a challenge for owners and operators who irrigate with central pivot and linear irrigation machines. Soil moisture content levels in a field are determined by using manual or various types of instruments installed in the field. In most cases, soil moisture content data is not easily converted into a usable form for decision making by irrigation equipment operators.

Manual monitoring of soil moisture content is time consuming and does not provide a good view of the soil moisture content status across the field. Furthermore, to do soil moisture content monitoring work in many fields, three, four or more soil moisture sensors are required, or if collected manually, a lot of walking is required. In either case, the humidity data in the existing systems is not readily available to the owner or operator, nor is it in a form that is easy to use.

Further, even in the case of using a plurality of humidity sensors, the actual area and depth of soil in which the moisture content of soil is measured are limited. Thus, this data cannot be used to accurately map the status of the entire field, nor to develop a field wide irrigation strategy for a central pivot or linear irrigation rig. In addition, monitoring soil moisture content is reasonably well done and becomes expensive due to the cost of equipment, installation costs, and the fact that one or more of the soil moisture sensors may be installed incorrectly or in locations in the field that are not representative of the general area.

An important new technology for sensing humidity conditions is the fast neutron sensor, commonly referred to as a "COSMOS probe. The COSMOS probe operates by measuring fast neutron activity near a given surface. These fast neutrons are generated by the impact of secondary cosmic rays with the soil. Upon impact, fast neutrons of cosmic rays are scattered ("thermalized") and absorbed by the soil. However, some of these fast neutrons escape back into the air on the ground.

The number of fast neutrons that escape any given soil depends on the composition of the soil, and in particular on the moisture content of the soil. In drier soils, more neutrons escape, while in more humid soils, fewer neutrons escape.

Heretofore, the use of COSMOS probes has been limited to static probes mounted on poles and designed to measure moisture content in a given field over a set period of time. Alternatively, they have been used on vehicles associated with non-agricultural work for scientific measurement of groundwater concentrations. However, COSMOS probes have not been used to date on agricultural equipment or mobile irrigation systems.

Disclosure of Invention

To address the shortcomings of the prior art, the present invention provides a system and method for improved irrigation management by detecting fast neutrons. According to a preferred embodiment, the present invention includes a controller that receives a count of detected fast neutrons and converts the number of detected fast neutrons into an irrigation map that indicates a desired irrigation level for a selected area of a given field.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the invention comprises: a GPS position detector; a machine orientation detector; an accelerometer and a fast neutron detector. According to a further preferred embodiment, the fast neutron detector of the invention comprises: a 4-He-based rare gas detector; a power source; a signal processing circuit; and a resistor in series with the preamplifier and the shaping amplifier to generate the processed signal. According to a further preferred embodiment, the invention preferably further comprises a signal path analyzer and a pulse counter/rate meter.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate various embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Drawings

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a system according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 shows a block diagram of an exemplary method for use with the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary mechanical arrangement employing a fast neutron sensor, according to an embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, and such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art.

The terms program, computer program, software application, module, and the like as used herein, are defined as a sequence of instructions designed for execution on a computer system. A program, computer program, module, or software application may include a subroutine, a function, a procedure, an object implementation, an executable application, an applet, a servlet, a source code, an object code, a shared library, a dynamic load library and/or other sequence of instructions designed for execution on a computer system. As defined herein, a data storage device includes many different types of computer-readable media that allow a computer to read data therefrom and maintain stored data to enable the computer to read the data again. Such data storage devices may include, for example, non-volatile memory such as ROM, flash memory, battery backed RAM, disk drive memory, CD-ROM, DVD, and other permanent storage media. However, even volatile storage such as RAM, buffers, cache memory, and network circuits are contemplated for use as such data storage in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a block diagram illustrating an exemplary system 10 of the present invention will now be discussed. As shown in fig. 1, the present invention includes a fast neutron detector 12 that is preferably tuned to receive a direct reading of the presence of fast neutrons 14. The fast neutron detector 12 of the present invention may preferably be a 4-He based rare gas detector. Alternatively, the fast neutron detector 12 may preferably be a neutron-sensitive scintillating glass fiber detector or another detector design, without limitation. As further shown, the fast neutron detector 12 of the present invention preferably includes a signal processing circuit that may include at least a power supply 3 and a resistor 5 in series with the preamplifier 2 and the shaping amplifier 4. According to a preferred embodiment, the signal processing circuitry preferably amplifies, filters and processes the signal from the detector 12. As further shown, the signal from the shaper amplifier 4 may then preferably be provided to a signal channel analyzer 6 and a pulse counter/rate meter 8 to provide a count of detected fast neutrons to an irrigation system CPU16 for processing and analysis.

As further shown, the fast neutron data from the fast neutron detector 12 is preferably analyzed within the system CPU16 along with inputs from other devices and sensors within the irrigation vehicle. Alternatively, the fast neutron data may be analyzed and processed entirely within the fast neutron detector 12, in which case the data output may preferably be a direct humidity reading or other result.

Preferably, the present invention also includes inputs from the auxiliary sensors 20, which may preferably include inputs such as: GPS location data, accelerometer data, vehicle orientation data, and the like. Furthermore, the input data may preferably also include a remote data input 22, which may preferably include data such as internet data and remote input/output data. As discussed below with respect to fig. 2, using input data from fast neutron detector 12 and auxiliary sensors 20, irrigation system CPU16 preferably analyzes each piece of source data and plots a given field according to the measured moisture level associated with the identified location.

Referring now to fig. 2, exemplary methods and modes of operation according to a first preferred embodiment will now be discussed. As shown in fig. 2, fast neutron activity is detected at step 24. Thereafter, at step 26, the fast neutron activity level is converted to a humidity reading. As further shown, auxiliary sensor input, preferably including GPS and/or accelerometer data, is received at step 28. At step 30, the moisture content level is mapped, preferably using GPS measurement points of the moisture content level on a given field to be irrigated. Using the collected data, the irrigation system CPU16 preferably creates an irrigation plan for the mapped field at step 32. Preferably, the created irrigation management area and irrigation plan includes detailed water requirements for each region of the mapped field. The irrigation system CPU16 thereafter generates an irrigation system instruction set for the irrigation system, preferably using an irrigation plan, at step 34. Preferably, the irrigation system instruction set includes instructions for: movement of the irrigation system; the speed of the irrigation system; and nozzle arrangements, etc. At step 36, the instruction set is preferably used by the system CPU16 to command actions of the irrigation system.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the system of the present invention may preferably further comprise a transceiver allowing irrigation maps, data and plans to be transmitted for further viewing and analysis at a remote location or for use by another irrigation system. According to a preferred embodiment, the irrigation maps, data and plans of the present invention may be made available to users or other systems via a smart phone, tablet, or any other computing device.

Referring now to FIG. 3, an exemplary irrigation machine 42 employing fast neutron sensors is shown, according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown, the fast neutron sensor 44 of the present invention may be mounted on an irrigation system 42, which may be linear, centrally-pivoted, or in any other configuration. Thus, the present invention uses the movement of the irrigation system to allow a cosmic ray soil moisture sensor to scan the entire field to be irrigated. The fast neutron sensor 44 may be mounted so as to be easily moved from irrigation machine to irrigation machine.

As discussed above, the data obtained from the fast neutron sensor 44 may preferably be used to control and direct the irrigation control system 40 of the irrigation system 42. Further, such systems may include a controller for adjusting an operating parameter of the irrigation system, such as changing speed, adjusting the amount of watering, or modifying the irrigation application. In this manner, the system can preferably develop and execute a dynamic irrigation management plan for a target field.

Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope, but rather as exemplifications. Many other variations are possible. Accordingly, the scope should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims

1. A system for soil moisture monitoring and irrigation mapping for detecting and analyzing fast neutron activity to determine soil moisture levels and direct actions of irrigation machinery, wherein the system comprises:

a GPS position detector;

a machine orientation detector;

an accelerometer;

a fast neutron detector, wherein the fast neutron detector comprises:

a 4-He-based rare gas detector;

a power source;

a signal processing circuit, wherein the signal processing circuit comprises a resistor in series with a preamplifier and a shaping amplifier to generate a processed signal;

a signal channel analyzer, wherein the signal channel analyzer receives the processed signal from the fast neutron detector and separates signal data from the processed signal; and

a pulse counter/rate meter, wherein the pulse counter/rate meter provides a count of fast neutrons detected from the signal data of the processed signal; and

an irrigation system controller, wherein the irrigation system controller receives the count of the detected fast neutrons; further wherein the irrigation system controller further receives GPS coordinates corresponding to the location of the detected fast neutrons; further wherein the irrigation system controller further receives accelerometer data and machine orientation data;

wherein the irrigation system controller converts the number of detected fast neutrons into humidity level data for a given field; further wherein the irrigation system controller combines both the moisture level data and the GPS coordinates corresponding to the location of the detected fast neutrons to create an irrigation map that indicates a desired irrigation level for the selected area of the given field based on the detected moisture level.